Gaming terminal, gaming system and game control method

1. A gaming terminal comprising: a card slot into which a card storing identification data for identifying a player is inserted; a first memory capable of storing game history data for the player, the game history data being read from the card inserted into the card slot; a network interface for communicating with a server which stores a plurality of types of game software; a second memory which stores game software downloaded from said server through said network interface; a selection switch that receives instructions entered by a player; a display capable of displaying an image; and a controller, said controller acquiring game history data of the player corresponding to the identification data, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in the first memory, when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in the second memory, displaying on the display, an image that enables selection of whether to change a type of game software stored in the second memory to one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, when the type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is determined to be different from the type of game software stored in the second memory, downloading selected type of game software from said server through said network interface, when, based on an input from the selection switch, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, storing the downloaded game software in said second memory, and executing a game based on the game software downloaded and stored in said second memory.

2. A gaming terminal comprising: a cabinet; a front-side display provided in a front surface of said cabinet; an upper display provided above said front-side display; a foot display provided below said front-side display; lamps which emit light with a predetermined pattern; a card slot into which a card storing identification data for identifying a player is inserted; a first memory capable of storing game history data for the player, the game history data being read from the card inserted into the card slot; a network interface communicating with a server which stores a plurality of types of game software; a second memory which stores a game software from said server through said network interface; a selection switch receiving instructions entered by a player; and a controller, said controller acquiring game history data of the player corresponding to the identification data, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in the first memory, when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in the second memory, displaying on the front-side display an image enabling selection of whether to change a type of game software stored in the second memory to one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, when the type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is determined to be different from the type of game software stored in the second memory, downloading selected type of game software from said server through said network interface, when, based on an input from the selection switch, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, storing the downloaded game software in said second memory, and controlling said front-side display, said upper display and said foot display and also controlling light-emission pattern of said lamps, based on the game software downloaded and stored in said second memory.

3. A game control method for a gaming terminal comprising: acquiring game history data of a player corresponding to an identification data of the player which is stored in a card inserted into a card slot of the gaming terminal, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in a first memory; when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in a second memory; displaying on a display an image enabling selection of whether to change a type of game software stored in the second memory of the gaming terminal to one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, when the type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is determined to be different from the type of game software stored in the second memory; selecting a type of game software based on the image; downloading selected type of game software from a server, when, based on an input from a selection switch operable by the player, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory; storing the downloaded game software in said second memory; and executing a game based on the game software downloaded and stored in said second memory.

4. A game control method for a gaming terminal comprising the steps of: acquiring game history data of a player corresponding to an identification data of the player which is stored in a card inserted into a card slot of the gaming terminal, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in a first memory; when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in a second memory; displaying on a front-side display provided in a front surface of a cabinet an image enabling selection of whether to change a type of game software stored in the second memory of the gaming terminal to one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, when the type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is determined to be different from the type of game software stored in the second memory; selecting a type of game software based on the image using a selection switch operable by the player; downloading selected type of game software including a payout table corresponding to the game history data stored in said first memory from a server, when, based on an input from the selection switch, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history stored in the first memory; downloading selected type of game software components, when, based on an input from the selection switch, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history stored in the first memory; storing the downloaded game software in said second memory; and controlling the front-side display, an upper display provided above said front-side display and a foot display provided below said front-side display and also controlling light-emission pattern of lamps provided in said cabinet, based on the downloaded game software stored in said second memory.

5. The gaming terminal of claim 1 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, the controller displays on the display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

6. The gaming terminal of claim 2 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, the controller displays on the front-side display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

7. The game control method of claim 3 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, displaying the image includes displaying on the display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

8. The game control method of claim 4 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, displaying the image includes displaying on the front-side display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

9. A gaming terminal comprising: a card slot into which a card storing identification data for identifying a player is inserted; a first memory which stores game history data read from the card inserted in said card slot; a network interface for communicating with a server which stores a plurality of types of game software; a second memory which stores game software, downloaded from said server through said network interface; a selection switch receiving instructions entered by a player, the selection switch for selecting game software; a display capable of displaying an image; and a controller, said controller acquiring game history data of the player corresponding to the identification data, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in the first memory, when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in the second memory, displaying, to said display, an image which enables selection between game software stored in said second memory and game software corresponding to the game history data stored in said first memory, when the game software corresponding to the game history data stored in said first memory is determined to be different from the game software stored in said second memory, downloading selected type of game software from said server through said network interface, when, based on an input from the selection switch, when the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, storing the downloaded game software in said second memory, and executing a game based on the game software downloaded and stored in said second memory.

10. A gaming system comprising: a gaming terminal; and a server, said gaming terminal comprising a card slot into which a card storing identification data for identifying a player is inserted; a first memory capable of storing game history data for the player, the game history data being read from the card inserted into the card slot; a network interface for communication; a second memory which stores game software received through said network interface; a selection switch which receives instructions entered by the player; a display capable of displaying an image; a controller, said controller acquiring game history data of the player corresponding to the identification data, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in the first memory, when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in the second memory, displaying on the display an image enabling selection of whether to change a type of game software stored in the second memory to one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, when the type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is determined to be different from the type of game software stored in the second memory, transmitting a request signal which requests transmission of selected type of game software from said server, when, based on an input from the selection switch, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of the one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, storing, in said second memory, the game software transmitted in response to said request signal and executing games based on the game software, and said server comprising a third memory which stores a plurality of types of game software components; and a processor which, on receiving said request signal from said gaming terminal, selects game software from said third memory and transmits the game software components to said gaming terminal.

11. A game control method for a gaming terminal comprising the steps of: acquiring game history data of a player corresponding to an identification data of the player which is stored in a card inserted into a card slot of the gaming terminal, the game history data including game type information regarding a a number of games that the player has played and data on points offered in the games that have been played according to a number of consumed credits and the number of games, and storing said game history data in a first memory; when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in a second memory; displaying at a display an image enabling selection of whether to change a type of game software stored in the second memory of the gaming terminal to one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory, when the type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is determined to be different from the type of game software stored in the second memory; selecting a type of game software based on the image using a selection switch operable by the player; downloading selected type of game software including a payout table corresponding to the game history data stored in said first memory from said server, when, based on an input from the selection switch, the type of game software stored in the second memory is to be changed to any one of one or more types of game software corresponding to the game history stored in the first memory; storing the downloaded game software in said second memory; and executing a game based on the game software downloaded and stored in said second memory.

12. A game control method comprising the steps of: acquiring game history data of a player corresponding to an identification data of the player which is stored in a card inserted into a card slot of a gaming terminal, the game history data including game type information regarding a game that the player has played, and storing said game history data in a first memory; when the game history data is stored, determining whether a type of game software corresponding to the game history data stored in the first memory is identical with a type of game software stored in a second memory; downloading, to the second memory, game software selected by the player and corresponding to the game history data stored in said first memory, when the game software stored in said first memory is determined to be different from game software stored in the second memory, to said gaming terminal and storing in said second memory the downloaded game software; and executing a game based on the game software downloaded and stored in said second memory.

13. The gaming terminal of claim 9 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, the controller displays on the display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

14. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, the controller displays on the display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

15. The game control method of claim 11 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, displaying the image includes displaying on the display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.

16. The game control method of claim 12 , wherein the game history data further includes game data for each of games that have been played by the player, the dame control method further includes displaying on the display the games that have been played by the player in order of the game data, and the game data for each game includes any one of a number of played games, a number of games in which coins are paid out, or a number of coins paid out.